Ch. 21

"Alright! Get your plants. Mom's love plants. Be a decent kid and show your mom some love!" Kyle's voice booms across the forum on Friday at lunch. The sun is streaming in through the skylights and our table is right in the middle of the area, between the caf and the library. We've been selling plants for a few days now and it's actually been going pretty well. Just before the beginning of lunch we wheel a cart down from the greenhouse and lay out our table. All the prices are in even figures so we don't need to make much change and we've even run out of a few of the plants. We still have a bunch to get rid of this weekend, though.

Lauren sidles up to the stand, her ponytail swishing back and forth as she surveys business. "I thought I told you to put the flowers to one side and the veggies to the other. Everything is all mixed together!"

I try to avoid rolling my eyes. "Relax, Lauren. They were all laid out like that at the beginning of lunch. This is just what happens when people buy stuff and move things around."

"Oh, so the sale's going well?"

"Yes, pretty good, I suppose. Why do you care?" Carson steps up to answer her.

"I just think that your program is an important cause."

I can see Carson bristle at her speech and kind of puff up his chest. "I am not a cause."

"No, of course not. That's not what I meant at all." It's funny watching her back track, and I don't really get it. She's fine bossing Tom and I around, but Carson, a guy with a reputation has her nervous. "I just meant that I think it's important that people should have the opportunity to learn in a non-traditional environment."

"Is there a reason you stopped by, Lauren?" I step in before Carson does something he'll regret.

"Yeah, I just wanted to make sure you're all set for the weekend. We've put up signs and I even put an ad in the paper."

"Everything should be set then."

"Do you need a ride?"

"Only if you don't mind. Otherwise I was going to ride my bike here."

"Sure. Should I pick up Tom, too?"

"How should I know?"

"Aren't you..." She tails off as she realizes that maybe what she wants to say isn't quite right. "...Friends?" She settles on.

"Yes, we are friends, but that doesn't mean I know his whereabouts or anything." I am sure my cheeks match the blooms of the red begonias on the table.

"You know where he is, 95. Don't lie." Carson totally rats me out as I shoot him dagger eyes. He turns to Lauren, "He's in the greenhouse."

"Awesome!" She cheers and flounces off while I roll my eyes and Carson sniggers behind me.

..........................................

The next morning, bright and early, Lauren pulls in my driveway with Tom already firmly in the front seat. I've been standing in the front window for a little while now because I really didn't want Lauren to have to come to the door. As much as my house isn't that bad, it really is compared to what she's probably used to. I don't want her prying eyes taking in the sagging couch or threadbare carpet. My mom still isn't feeling better and has been in the bathroom for the better part of half an hour. Fortunately I was able to shower in between her upchucking, I just hope I don't catch her flu.

It's a really great day for a farm stand; one of those sunny spring days that tricks you into thinking of summer, birds chirping and a light dusting of dew across the grass. Interestingly enough, I can't wait to sell plants. Lauren parks around the back of the school by the loading docks, which seems odd until she explains that we need to gain entrance from the custodians and that Lauren herself has the keys we need. It's shocking how much access a student council president has.

Tom and I will man the stand all day Saturday and Sunday, if we have stuff left to sell on Sunday, and everyone else is scheduled into two hour shifts. By the time Lauren has us squared away with the custodians, Kyle and Faith arrive to help us set up. We borrow the large flatbed cart from Mr. Oren, the head custodian and Lauren, Faith and I go up in the elevator to get some plants while Kent and Tom move the tables into place along the roadside.

It takes two trips to get enough plants to fill our tables and then Lauren brings out some signs that the student council made. She and Faith take a few minutes to set them up along the busy street hopefully to attract some buyers. I swear, it's like most of the people on the council just do it to paint or something, because as far as I can tell, it's what they usually do. The signs are nice, though, and as soon as they're up we're getting customers.

The time goes fairly quickly and we are making a good amount of cash. Kyle and Faith hang around a little beyond their shift and we're joined by Andi and Shayla, who take over the stand while Tom and Kyle go in to get more plants. At this rate, we really will be sold out by tomorrow.

"How's business?" Mr Sway has just pulled up in his Honda, his window rolled down.

"Not bad, actually," I tell him as he surveys the tables. "Did you want some plants?"

"No, I decidedly do not have a green thumb. I just thought I should probably pick up some of the cash so it's not just sitting by the side of the road."

It's actually a really good idea. I don't want to be responsible for handling a lot of money and as much as I trust my classmates, the temptation sitting in front of us is very real. We've been using the student council cash box, so he and I go to his car and sort through the funds quickly. We have a lot of change, but loonies and twoonies add up quickly. All told there's about three hundred dollars in sales today so far, and it's only been three hours.

"This is pretty impressive, Justin. Add it to the few hundred in sales from the school, we've far surpassed the bill for the boots and might be able to replace some of the gear for next year," he tells me as he puts the money into a deposit bag. "I'll come again right at closing to collect up any more you might make, but I expect the afternoon to be a little slower."

"You're probably right. Less people do shopping and gardening later in the day, I suppose." I look out the window and watch as Tom and Andi goof around while Shayla rolls her eyes. His smile is taking over his face, and he leans over slightly to flip his bangs back, and he looks just amazing. I sigh heavily.

"You okay, Justin?"

"Yeah," I answer distractedly, not moving my eyes from Tom. God I want him, if I could just let myself have him.

"I'm going to go get you guys some drinks. Any requests?"

"You don't have to do that, whatever's fine."

A car pulls up behind us, and I realize that I have all the money, so I quickly get out of the car and go back to my post, pasting a smile on my face as I carry the much lighter cash box. Tom looks over to me and his face is still bright. Suddenly my smile isn't fake anymore.

By the end of the day, it's just me an Tom packing up. True to his word, Mr. Sway came and collected most of the cash, just leaving us with a float of twenty dollars for the morning. We take the plants that are left back to the greenhouse, and really, there aren't very many.

"I'm not sure if the twenty or so plants we have left is worth having a sale for," I point out. We're standing side by side examining our remaining stock. There's hardly any geraniums

"Well don't come then. I'm going to be here and selling them all day long, even if I only make fifty bucks." He gave me a hard look and then I realized. He being here all day meant he didn't have to be there—in the group home.

"No, I want to be here, too," I smile up at him, giving him puppy dog eyes. His hard look leaves and he smiles.

Tom shifts so he's a little behind me, his head resting on my shoulder, hot breath on my neck. "Really? Are you like me? You don't want unfinished business?" I'm getting shivers and my eyes close, leaning back into him a little. His warm chest is pressed against my back and I'm really trying not to be so affected by Tom, but I can't help it. I know he's teasing me and god is it good.

"I—I'm going to tell my mom tonight. Fuck it, if she doesn't like it. I just want to be with you, Tom." Turning to look at him I continue, "I'm so sorry for dicking you around. I don't want to be like this."

"I don't want to either, Justin. It's just so hard. You look so composed, so smart, like you know what you're doing, but when it comes to me, to us....you just leave me hanging." I hate that there's a look of disappointment in his eyes that I'm responsible for putting there. "And I don't know how much more I can take. My life pretty much sucks, you know? I mean I know I'm getting out of here, and that's great, but right now? It's shit."

"I'm sorry, Tom. I really am, but at least you know you're going somewhere. I haven't heard from anywhere yet. Not one place. And I am terrified. What if you go and I don't?"

"I don't know, but that's not for months yet and wouldn't you rather have some time with me than none at all? I know I'm not worth much, but-" He looks pained and I can't let him go on.

"Stop it. Stop it now. I do want that, I want you." I grab his hand and it is so warm and soft and rough, and I want to hold it forever. Lacing my fingers through his, I continue, "As soon as we fucking get out of here, I'm going to tell her. I want to be with you. I want to kiss you and hold hands and screw everything else." My face reddens at what I've just said, but fortunately Tom lets the screwing comment go, realizing I'm already flustered enough.

"Let's get a move on then, because I'm pretty sure that Lauren isn't going to wait downstairs forever. Come on, 95! I thought you were the responsible one." He grins at me, then plants a soft, light kiss on my cheek and I am tingling.